Back to its roots: Berlin Raceway going dirt for the first time in 47 years

MARNE – It has been about four years since Bill Mysliwiec of Grand Rapids last visited the Berlin Raceway, but when he got word of what was going on Monday, he spent most of the day in Marne checking it out.

Mysliwiec’s father, the late Chester Mysliwiec, founded the track on the Berlin Fairgrounds in 1951, and he operated it until his death in 1999. It was originally a dirt oval until Mysliwiec paved it in October of 1965.

Mylsliwiec said his father would love what’s going on this week. Berlin officials are spreading about 7,500 yards of dirt, 8-to-12 inches deep, around the Marne half-mile in preparation for the Sept. 21-22 Down & Dirty 100, a two-day dirt show featuring the traveling World of Outlaws Late Models.

“My dad liked the dirt track,” Mysliwiec said. “But he had to do what he thought was best for business in those days. A lot of dirt tracks were paved in the middle ‘60s because they weren’t getting the crowds anymore.”

The project began Monday morning, two days after Berlin hosted its season championship races for its weekly divisions. The track should be covered today, and officials will continue to fine tune the surface in the days leading up to the races.

It will mark the first dirt race at Berlin since the summer of 1965, and Mysliwiec said this is one race he won’t miss. Mysliwiec said the old dirt track was bigger than the current asphalt track, however, it didn’t have the banking it has now.

“I think it will be flat out around here, and there will be grooves that you have never seen on the pavement,” Mysliwiec said. “They could be touching the wall between turns three and four with their back ends, slinging it right in there. The fans will like watching them tear around here.”

Bill Ponstein of Georgetown Construction and his crew are helping put down the dirt, and they will haul it away once the races are completed. In addition, Berlin officials have hired Jeremie Corcoran to come in and help with the preparation.

Corcoran is the owner of Canandaigua Motorsports Park, a half-mile dirt track in Canandaigua, N.Y. Corcoran also has helped prepare dirt tracks across the country.

“It actually is pretty easy,” Corcoran said. “Everybody is worried about (the dirt) moving, but once it’s down, it won’t move. We will go over it about a dozen times, getting rid of the low spots, the high spots and the valleys. You have to have a laser eye for it.”

An open practice is scheduled for Sept. 20, and classes include 4 Cylinders, Modifieds, Factory Stocks and Street Stocks. Adult tickets are $20 on Sept. 21 and $30 on Sept. 22. Two-day passes are available for $45. Children tickets are $7 on Sept. 20, $10 on Sept. 21 and $15 for a two-day pass.